Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Defend Shays

The Republican attack machine is going after one of its own, Rep. Chris Shays of Connecticut, just because he spoke his mind and courageously called for Tom DeLay to step down.

Yesterday, we urged our members to call Chris Shays' office to offer him praise and thanks for his position. But we weren't alone -- others generated calls to Shays office, so that the report from Shays' spokesperson last night was that the calls were running 60% against him for saying DeLay should go from calls outside his district.

Update: The calls from within Shays' district are running two-to-one FOR Shays' position.

Redouble your efforts folks. We cannot let DeLay's allies intimidate members of Congress who want to stand up for what is right.

Call Chris Shays at 202-225-5541 and tell him we have his back.

If you need extra motivation, this is what one of Shays' colleagues said about him:

"I think that Chris Shays again has demonstrated he's totally out of touch with what the mainstream of the Republican members of Congress are feeling and that he is disloyal to the party and to people as individuals," [Rep. Dana] Rohrabacher [of California] said, adding that the attacks are nonsensical "except you've got jerks like Chris Shays who get notoriety by being disloyal to their fellow Republicans."

9 Comments:

Called Rep. Shays' ofc. this AM. Polite individual listened to my thanks for Rep. Shays courageous comments about Rep. leadership in the House and their "ethically challenged" illness(es). He also asked for my name and address.Stand firm Rep. Shay!!

Why do pockets or groups of people (republicans in this case)in our society always want to circle the wagons around those who do wrong. It's time to make clear that if you are an elected public servant you are expected to act accord-ingly, to do what's right and what you expect the public to do, that is, operate within the rules. If you fail to do so, you should net be protected by overzealous friends and colleagues. Further, Congressman Rohrabacher, should think seriously about who the jerk really is in the Delay debockle.

Shays has a history of courageous behavior, like opposing the Clinton Impeachment. Ann Coulter was planning on running against Shays as the Libertarian Party candidate to defeat him some years ago, but the Libertarians wouldn't have her because she was an obvious opportunist who'd end up sliming them.

Also,please note Shays comments on the Schiavo Case. No wonder the neocons are coming after him. He sides with the majority of Americans.

For Immediate ReleaseMarch 21, 2005

Shays Statement on Terri Schiavo Case

Washington, D.C. - Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would allow a federal court to intervene in the case of Terri Schiavo. Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) voted against this legislation, which passed by a vote of 203 to 58.

The following is Congressman Shays' statement on this legislation:

“My heart goes out to Terri Schiavo, her parents, and family, and, yes, even to her husband. My heart goes out to everyone who may have found themselves in a similar situation in the past or might find themselves in a similar situation in the future.

I wanted to stay back in Connecticut and avoid having to cast a vote because I do not want to play God, and either way I vote I feel I am. We all know this is a time for real thoughtfulness and wisdom and inspiration, and I believe that is what we are all trying to do. On both sides of the aisle we ask ``Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.''

Sanctity of life, sanctity of marriage, sanctity of an individual to decide for themselves what should happen to their own life, I find myself wondering why is there so much focus on this life when we ignore the countless lives throughout the world who die minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day from hunger and disease that this Congress could address and this Congress could prevent? Why only Terri when there are others like her in our country?

The only way this bill has any legitimacy is if it applies to all cases, not just Terri's, and that is what concerns me. How deep is this Congress going to reach? How deep is this Congress going to reach into the personal lives of each and every one of us?”

I called Rep. Shays' office today (April 12). John, who listened patiently to my comments, seemed quite pleased at the message of thanks for standing for ethics and decency, and encouragement to "stand firm" that I wanted him to pass along. At the end of my comments, he requested my name and mailing address.

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